TOTAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Tuesday, 8 May 2018
TOTAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
PART III
TOTAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Tuesday, 8 May 2018
THE
THIRD WEEK
(27th
to 33rd Day)
Theme:
Knowledge of Jesus Christ
The
third week should be employed in knowing and loving Jesus Christ. You cannot
love what you don’t know. What you know only in part you cannot love with your
whole heart. To know Jesus Christ means to possess enough knowledge about Him.
If you had all knowledge of the world and know not Him, you would know nothing.
We ask Mary to lead us to the knowledge of Jesus: to reveal to us her divine
Son, that through her He may reign in our hearts. We renounce Satan and choose
Jesus Christ for our King and only Lord and Master.
St.
Paul says (Philip. 3: 8) “I count all things to be but loss for the excellent
knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things
and count them but as dung that I may gain Christ.”
Jesus
Christ, Our Saviour, true God and true Man, should be the final end of all our
devotions; for otherwise they would be false and deceitful. Our aim, therefore,
in establishing solid devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin, is none other than
to establish more perfectly the worship of Jesus Christ. If devotion to the
Blessed Virgin had any effect of estranging us from Jesus Christ, it would have
to be rejected as a snare of the devil. On the contrary, indeed, this devotion
is necessary for us in order that we may find Christ perfectly, love Him
tenderly and serve Him faithfully. (True Devotion Nos., 61-62)
What
is to be studied in Jesus Christ?
First
His Divinity and Humanity, His Grace and Glory; His rights to Sovereign
dominion over us; His exterior actions and also His interior life; namely the
virtues and acts of His Most Sacred Heart: His association with Mary in the
mysteries of the Annunciation and Incarnation; during His infancy and hidden
life; at the feast of Cana and Calvary.
In
striving to obtain knowledge of Jesus Christ, we must also bear in mind the
words of St. Louis de Montfort: “One of the reasons why Jesus Christ is not
known as He deserves to be known is that Mary has been but very imperfectly
known until now.” (True Devotion, No. 13) Therefore the knowledge and reign of
Jesus Christ could begin only as a necessary consequence of the knowledge and
reign of the Most Blessed Virgin.
Spiritual Exercise during
the 3rd Week
-
Prayer and Meditation, Reflection,
Resolution.
-
Examination of Conscience.
-
Acts of love of God.
-
Acts of thanksgiving for the blessings of
Jesus.
-
Joyful acceptance of sufferings.
-
Pardoning wrongs.
Prayers
to be recited during the Third Week:
1.
Litany of the Holy Ghost (Page: 10)
2. Ave Maris Stella (Page: 8)
3.
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus (Page: 13)
4. Prayer
to Jesus Christ – by St. Louis de Montfort. (Page: 16)
Prayer before Meditation
V. Come Holy Ghost
R. Fill the hearts of thy faithful, and
enkindle in them the fire of Thy will.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they
shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the
earth.
Let
us Pray: O God, Who didst
instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost: give to us,
in the same Spirit, to know what is right, and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who with Thee livest and reignest in
the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God. World without end. Amen.
Prayer
before meditation during the 3rd Week
O
Mary Immaculate, Virgin Mother of God, praise, thanksgiving and adoration to
the Most Holy Trinity for all the graces conferred on Thee by Him. By Thee it
was that Jesus Christ willed to come to us from the Father through the Holy
Ghost. Thou art also my Mother, my Mistress and my Queen. Lead me to Jesus.
Obtain for me light and love from the Holy Ghost that I may ever better know
Jesus and love Him more and more. Through the total Consecration to Thee, I
wish to belong to Jesus with Thee forever.
Prayer after Meditation: Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
In the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee
Forever and ever. Amen.
27th Day
(1st Day of the Third Week)
Theme: Love of God in
His Incarnation
The
invisible love of God hidden form all eternity has been now made manifest in
Jesus Christ Our Lord! Who can fathom this mystery! Let us ask the Mother of
Fair Love to grant us knowledge of Jesus Christ “that surpasseth all
knowledge”. (Eph. 3: 19)
Consideration: (Picture
for Meditation) Annunciation (Luke. 1:
31-38)
ET INCARNATUS EST…. EX MARIA VIRGINE
AND BECAME INCARNATE…. OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY
(Love
of Eternal Wisdom, Nos., 105-110; 117-119)
(1) The Incarnation of the Eternal Wisdom
(105-110)
-
“At last when the time appointed for the
redemption of mankind came, ‘The Eternal Wisdom built Himself a house” – a
worthy dwelling place with seven pillars.
(Prov. 9:1)
-
He created and formed the divine Mary in the
womb of St. Anne.
“Let us create this being (Mary) in entire Sanctity and
Perfection, so that the disorder of the first sin shall have no part in her….
Let her be a most special image and likeness of Our Divinity…. I will descend
from heaven into her womb and in it vest Myself from her substance with human
nature” (Mystical City of God, Book 1, Chapter 6)
-
He discharged the full plenitude of the
graces of His Divinity in the heart of Mary!
-
During the first 14 years of her life, the
divine Mary grew so wonderfully in the grace and wisdom of God, and in perfect
fidelity to His love, that not only the Angels but even God Himself was
ravished with delight!
-
Her humility – profound as an abyss, pleased
Him!
-
Her altogether divine purity – drew Him to
her.
-
Her lively Faith – took Him by storm!
“O,
how great was the love of Mary which conquered the Omnipotent!” (St. Augustine)
-
When the Divine Wisdom wished to come down
from the bosom of His Father into the womb of this Virgin, to dwell there
surrounded by the lilies of her purity, to become Her’s by taking flesh in her,
He sent the Archangel Gabriel to bring her His greetings – in order to announce
to her that she had won His heart, and that He wished to become Man in her,
provided she gave her consent.
-
The Archangel fulfilled his mission. He
assured her that she would remain a virgin whilst becoming a Mother; and he
obtained from her love the “ineffable consent” which the Blessed Trinity, all
the angels and the whole world had awaited for so many centuries, when,
humbling herself before the Creator she said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
be it done to me according to Thy word.” (Lk. 1:38)
-
At this very moment when Mary consented to
become the Mother of God, several prodigies took place! –
-
The
Holy Ghost formed from the most pure blood of Mary’s heart a little Body which
He fashioned most perfectly!
-
God created the most perfect Soul He ever
created!
-
The Eternal Word, the Son of God, truly
united Himself in unity of Person to the body and soul!
-
Behold this great wonder of heaven and earth,
the prodigious excess of the Love of God! VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST – “The Word
was made Flesh” (Jn. 1: 14) the Eternal Wisdom was Incarnate; God was made Man
without ceasing to be God. This God made man is called Jesus Christ, which
means Savior!
-
He wished to be born of a married woman –
though Mary was indeed a Virgin – lest He be reproached of being born of an
adulterous union.
-
His conception took place, without inheriting
the sin of Adam, on a Friday, March 25th (Here St. Louis de Montfort
follows the opinion of some ancient writers like Baronius and others)
-
On December 25th the Savior of the
world was born in the town of Bethlehem, in a poor stable, with a manger for
His cradle. An Angel brought the news of the Saviour’s birth to some shepherds
who were keeping watch over their flocks in the fields; He invited them to go
over to Bethlehem and adore their Saviour. At the same time they heard the
celestial voices of Angels singing: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on
earth to men of good-will! (Lk. 2: 14)
(2) The beauty and gentleness of the
Incarnate Wisdom (117-119)
-
“The prophets, who had been shown this
Incarnate wisdom in advance have called Him a Lamb, “A meek lamb”, (Jer.
11:19). They foretold that because of His gentleness, “He would not break the
bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax: (Isaiah 42: 3) which means that
because of His abundant mercy, He will not allow the loss of a poor sinner”
(unless the sinner wishes to be lost).
-
“St. John the Baptist lived in the desert (a
hermit) practicing austerities to obtain the knowledge and love of the
incarnate wisdom; no sooner did he see Him coming, then he pointed Him out to
his disciples, exclaiming: Behold the Lamb of God, Behold Him who taketh away
the sins of the world! (Jn. 1:29) Behold the Eternal wisdom who, to captivate
our hearts and to take away our sins, has blended in His Person all the
meekness of God and of men, of heaven and earth.
As
the Divine Wisdom became Man for the purpose of drawing the hearts of men to
love and imitate Him, He was pleased to clothe Himself with all human gentleness
and kindness: “Learn of Me because I am meek and humble of heart.” (Matt.11:29)
He is but goodness and meekness because of “His Origins”, who are the Eternal
Father and the Virgin Mother!
He
is a gift of the love of the Eternal Father and a manifestation of the love of
the Holy Ghost.
He
was born of the sweetest, the most tender and most beautiful of all mothers,
the Divine Mary!
-
If you would appreciate the gentleness of
Jesus, then consider first the gentleness of Mary, His Mother! Whom He resembles
by His pleasing character.
-
Jesus is Mary’s Child; and therefore, there
is no haughtiness, no harshness, and no unpleasantness in Him. He is gentleness
and beauty itself!
-
Do you want to reflect this gentleness and
beauty of Jesus? Consecrate yourself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Practice of Meekness
“Meekness”
is the characteristic virtue of a “lamb”; it is the beloved virtue of Jesus
Christ, who through a love of meekness took the name Lamb of God!
In
your behavior and conversation with others, “be agreeable” not only to the
superiors and to those who are in office, but to all, and particularly to those
who have offended you, who oppose your wishes or displeases you by their
roughness of manner or by their forgetfulness of past favors!
Oh!
How Our Redeemer bore with the rudeness and imperfections of His disciples
during the whole time that He lived with them!
With
what patience now He bears with your own sinfulness and ingratitude!
1.
Endeavour with all your might to restrain
every motion of anger!
2.
Be careful to abstain from all disagreeable
words, and to avoid all roughness and haughtiness of manner, for rude conduct
is sometimes more offensive than insulting language.
3.
Let your answer to every word of anger be
full of sweetness, and the fire of passion will be instantly extinguished.
The Story of two monks
having missed their way on a journey, entered by chance into a field in which
seed had just been sown. The man who was entrusted with the care of the field
burst out into a fit of rage and was shouting at the top of his voice with
every kind of reproach!
At
first the monks were silent, but seeing that their silence served only to
inflame his anger, they exclaimed: “Brother, we have done wrong; for God’s sake
pardon us”. This humble answer calmed his passion and filled his soul with
sorrow for his conduct.
He
immediately asked pardon of the monks for his injurious language – and he even
left the world and joined them in the Cloister!
“You
have heard that it hath been said an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
But
I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strikes thee on the right cheek,
turn to him also the other!” (Matt. 5:38, 39)
“For
God so loved the world as to give His Only Begotten Son; that whosoever
believeth in Him may not perish, but may have life Everlasting.”
“And
the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1: 14)
Gal. 2:20
“And
I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh; I
live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself for me!
Prayer: (Oration after the “Angelus”)
Pour
forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the
Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by
His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the
same Christ Our Lord. Amen!
Spiritual
Reading:
Imitation of
Christ, Book 4, Chapter 2,
CHAPTER II
That the greatness and charity of
God is shown to men in the Sacrament
The Voice of the Disciple
Trusting in Thy goodness and great mercy, O
Lord, I draw near, the sick to the Healer, the hungering and thirsting to the
Fountain of life, the poverty−stricken to the King of heaven, the servant to
the Lord, the creature to the Creator, the desolate to my own gentle Comforter.
But whence is this unto me, that Thou comest unto me? Who am I that Thou
shouldest offer me Thyself? How doth a sinner dare to appear before Thee? And
how dost thou vouchsafe to come to the sinner? Thou knowest Thy servant, and
Thou knowest that he hath in him no good thing for which Thou shouldest grant
him this grace. I confess therefore mine own vileness, I acknowledge Thy
goodness, I praise Thy tenderness, and I give Thee thanks for Thine exceeding
great love. For Thou doest this for Thine own sake, not for my merits, that Thy
goodness may be
more manifest unto me, Thy charity more
abundantly poured out upon me, and Thy humility more perfectly commended unto
me. Therefore because this pleaseth Thee and Thou hast commanded that thus it
shall be, Thy condescension pleaseth me also; and oh that mine iniquity hinder
it not.
2. O most sweet and tender Jesus, what
reverence, what giving of thanks is due to Thee with perpetual praise for the
receiving of Thy sacred Body and Blood, the dignity whereof no man is found
able to express. But what shall I think upon in this Communion in approaching
my Lord, whom I am not able worthily to honour, and nevertheless whom I long
devoutly to receive? What shall be better and more healthful meditation for me,
than utter humiliation of myself before Thee, and exaltation of Thine infinite
goodness towards me? I praise Thee, O my God, and exalt Thee for evermore. I
despise myself, and cast myself down before Thee
into the deep of my vileness.
3. Behold, Thou art the Saint of saints and
I the refuse of sinners; behold, Thou stoopest unto me who am not worthy to
look upon Thee; behold, Thou comest unto me, Thou willest to be with me, Thou
invitest me to Thy feast. Thou willest to give me the heavenly food and bread
of angels to eat; none other, in truth, than Thyself, The living bread, which
didst descend from heaven; and givest life to the world.(1)
4. Behold, whence this love proceedeth!
what manner of condescension shineth forth herein. What great giving of thanks
and praise is due unto Thee for these benefits! Oh how salutary and profitable
Thy purpose when Thou didst ordain this! How sweet and pleasant the feast when
Thou didst give Thyself for food! Oh how admirable is thy working, O Lord, how
mighty Thy power, how unspeakable Thy truth! For Thou didst speak the word, and
all things were made; and this is done which Thou hast commanded.
5. A thing wonderful, and worthy of faith,
and surpassing all the understanding of man, that Thou, O Lord my God, very God
and very man, givest Thyself altogether to us in a little bread and wine, and
art so our inexhaustible food. Thou, O Lord of all, who hast need of nothing,
hast willed to dwell in us through Thy Sacrament. Preserve my heart and my body
undefiled, that with a joyful and pure conscience I may be able very often to
[celebrate, and](2) receive to my perpetual health. Thy mysteries, which Thou
hast consecrated and instituted both for Thine own honour, and for a perpetual
memorial.
6. Rejoice, O my soul, and give thanks unto
God for so great a gift and precious consolation, left unto thee in this vale
of tears. For so oft as thou callest this mystery to mind and receivest the
body of Christ, so often dost thou celebrate the work of thy redemption, and
art made partaker of all the merits of Christ. For the charity of Christ never
groweth less, and the greatness of His propitiation is never exhausted.
Therefore, by continual renewal of thy spirit, thou oughtest to dispose thyself
hereunto and to weigh the great mystery of salvation with attentive
consideration. So great, new, and joyful ought it to appear to thee when thou
comest to communion, as if on this self−same day Christ for the first time were
descending into the Virgin's womb and becoming man, or hanging on the cross,
suffering and dying for the salvation of mankind.
28th
Day (2nd Day of the Third Week)
Theme:
Love of Christ in His Redemption
Jesus Christ came to give His life as a
ransom for all. By His death on the cross, He freed us from the cruel slavery
of Satan, and thus opened for us the gates of paradise. May the Mother of
Sorrows, who at the foot of the cross shared the sacrifice of her Son, never
let us forget for what high price we were bought.
Consideration:
(Picture
for Meditation) see Jesus Christ
crucified – Calvary
(Love
of Eternal Wisdom, Nos., 154-163, 167,168,172,173)
The
unutterable sorrows which the Incarnate Wisdom suffered for Love of us
“Among
all the motives which urge us to love Jesus Christ, the strongest is the
sorrows which He endured to show us His Love. The bitter chalice which He drank
for us!, the works of the Redemption which makes him so dear to our hearts.
-
This motive – the pangs and agony at the
thought of our sinfulness – draws us towards him more gently; claims us more
justly; impels us more stringently and moves us more forcefully!
In order to realize more clearly the infinite
love of our dear Savior let us enter into the various circumstances which
accompanied his sufferings:
1)
The
Excellence of His Person – which being Infinite gives Infinite value to all the
sufferings of His Passion.
The Creator of heaven and earth, the Only Son
of God, the Eternal Wisdom Himself has come to offer His life for our sins! The
lives of all the Angels, of all men, and of all creatures together are
infinitely less than the life of our Saviour, who is called by Isaias, “Vir
dolorum” – “A man of all sorrows” (Is. 53:3). This dear Friend of our souls
suffered in all things exteriorly and interiorly, in His body and His Soul! “In
Whom there is no soundness from the sole of the foot unto the top of the head”
(Is. 1:6)
2)
He
suffered in what He possessed.
-
The poverty of His birth!, (has any one of us
been born in a cow shed?) of His flight into Egypt!, of His whole life!
-
He was during His passion, stripped by the
soldiers who parted His garments amongst them!
-
He was fixed naked to the gibbet – not
leaving Him as much as a rag to cover His body.
3)
He
suffered in His honor and reputation:
-
He was overwhelmed with reproaches.
-
He was called a blasphemer, a seducer, a wine
drinker, a glutton and one possessed by a devil!
4)
He
suffered in His disciples:
-
One of His disciples sold and betrayed Him!
-
The first of them denied Him!
-
And the rest abandoned Him!
5)
He
suffered from all kinds of people:
-
From Kings, governors, judges, courtiers,
solders, pontiffs, priests clerical and lay people!
-
From Jews and Gentiles!
-
From men and women, and in fact from
everybody!
-
Even His Blessed Mother added dreadfully to
His afflictions when, as He was dying, He saw her standing at the foot of the
cross, immersed in an ocean of sadness!
6)
He
suffered in all members of His body!
-
His head was crowned with thorns!
-
His hair and beard were torn out!
-
His cheeks were buffeted!
-
His face was spit upon!
-
His neck and His arms were bound with cords!
-
His shoulders were bent and bruised by the
weight of the cross!
-
His Hands and feet pierced by the nails!
-
His side and His heart opened by the lance!
-
His whole body pitilessly lacerated by more
than 5,000 strokes of the scourge. (60 soldiers administered the scourging, two
at a time, relieving each other every two minutes – Thus the scourging lasted
an hour! The lashes were inflicted with rhythm like two blacksmiths striking
their anvil!)
-
His almost fleshless bones became visible to
the eyes!
-
His five senses were all immersed in the sea
of sufferings!
-
His eyes when he beheld the mocking faces of
His enemies and the tears of His friends!
-
His ears when he heard the insults, the false
testimonies, and the calumnies uttered against Him.
-
His smell was tortured by the stench of the
filth and spittle which they hurled in His face.
-
His taste by the feverish thirst which they
increased by giving Him gall and vinegar to drink!
-
His touch by the excruciating pains caused by
the lashes, the thorns and nails!
7)
He
suffered in His soul!
His Most Holy Soul was grievously tormented
because of the sins of all men:
-
Of so many outrages against His Father, Whom
He loved infinitely!
-
Of the damnation of so many souls that would
be lost despite His passion and death!
-
Of the duration of all these torments, for
they lasted from the first instant of His Incarnation to the moment of His
death! – because all the sufferings He was to endure were always and distinctly
present in His mind!
-
Of all the torments of His Soul, the most
cruel and appalling was His abandonment upon the cross, which caused Him to cry
out: “My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46)
-
Our good Jesus has suffered more than all the
martyrs together including those that have been, and those that will be till
the end of the world!
-
How deep then must be our grief and our love
and gratitude to Him, because He has suffered for us of His own free will and
with utmost love all that one can suffer!
-
St. Rupert says that at the Incarnation, the
Eternal Father proposed to His Son to save the world either by joys, pleasures,
honors and riches, or by afflictions, contempt, poverty and death.
But Our Lord chose to endure the cross and
sufferings in order to give God greater glory, and to men a token of love! He
was athirst for us, to give Himself to us and suffer for us!
“O Love, O God of Love! Oh how excessive is
the love which Thou has shown to us in suffering and dying!” (St. Francis of
Paula)
The
Triumph of the Eternal Wisdom in and by the Cross! (167-173)
-
“The Cross is the greatest secret (Sacrament)
of the King! – The greatest mystery of the Eternal Wisdom!
-
This great God, the Eternal Wisdom, wishes to
redeem the world, to cast out and shackle the demons, to close hell and open
heaven to men, and to render infinite glory to the Eternal Father!
-
The Incarnate wisdom to become glorious and
triumphant has chosen a thing which is a scandal and a stumbling block to Jews,
an object of foolishness to the Gentiles (1Cor. 1:23)
-
He sees a piece of vile and contemptible wood
which is being used to humiliate and torture the most wicked of men; it is
called a gibbet, a gallows, a cross!
-
He chooses it to be the instrument of His
conquests, the adornment of His Majesty, the delight of His empire, the friend
and spouse of His heart.
-
At His Incarnation He received the cross from
the hands of His Father in the womb of His Mother. He placed it in the midst of
His heart.
(The
Story of the Christmas gift – a Statue of St Joseph with the Child Jesus
clasping a cross close to his heart)
-
During His Life, all His desires were
directed towards the cross, because to die in its embrace was for Him the very
height of glory and success! At last His wishes were fully satisfied; loaded
with infamy He was attached to the cross, fixed to it, and joyfully died in the
embrace of His dear friend as upon a couch of honor and triumph!
-
The Cross was so incorporated with Him, that
it became as it were deified, and the object of adoration for Angels and men!
Jesus now demands that all His subjects should adore it with Himself!
-
On the day of the last judgment, He will
Command His chief Seraphim and Cherubim to gather up throughout the whole world
all the particles of the True Cross and they will be so well reunited, that
they will form but one Cross! The very cross upon which He died.
-
He will have His Cross borne in triumph by
the Angels, who will sing its joyful praise:
His Cross will go before Him placed upon the
most brilliant cloud that ever appeared He will Judge the world with His Cross
and by it.
Whilst waiting for the great and triumphant
day of the last Judgment, the Eternal wisdom wants the Cross to be the sign and
weapon of His Elect.
He does not admit any disciple who does not
bear the Sign of the Cross on his forehead without being ashamed of it; on his
heart – without despising it; and on his shoulders without taking it off!
“If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24)
“Have confidence you my soldiers, I am your
leader; I have conquered my enemies by the Cross, you will also conquer by this
sign.” (Jn. 16:33)
Let us cultivate a habit of mediating the
passion of Our Lord – in order to obtain the perfect love of Jesus Christ.
As children and disciples of a crucified God,
during our own life and in all our actions, we should have nothing before our
view but Jesus on the Cross! And we should have no other occupation than the
Contemplation of the love that Our Lord bore us. There is no exercise more apt
to kindle in us the divine love than the meditation and contemplation on the
Passion of Jesus Christ.
If you wish to contemplate Jesus and His
Passion – enter into the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary! – who was ever
“pondering them in her heart.” (Luke. 2:19)
Total Consecration and devotion to the
Immaculate Heart – enables us to do it perfectly. That is why Our Lady at
Fatima gave as one of the conditions – to remain with her contemplating the
mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary!
Prayer: (Collect: The Most Precious Blood – 1st
July)
Almighty everlasting God, who didst appoint
Thine Only Begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and didst vouchsafe to
be appeased by the shedding of His Blood; grant we beseech Thee, that by our
solemn commemoration of Thy passion we may so honor what the paid as the price
of our redemption, and by its virtue we may be so defended on earth from the
evils of the present life, that we may enjoy its fruits for evermore in heaven.
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Spiritual Reading:
Imitation of Christ,
Book 4, Chapter 8)
CHAPTER VIII Of the oblation of
Christ upon the cross, and of
resignation of self
The Voice of the Beloved
1. As I of my own will offered myself unto
God the Father on the Cross for thy sins with outstretched hands and naked
body, so that nothing remained in Me that did not become altogether a sacrifice
for the Divine propitiation; so also oughtest thou every day to offer thyself
willingly unto Me for a pure and holy oblation with all thy strength and
affections, even to the utmost powers of thine heart. What more do I require of
thee than thou study to resign thyself altogether unto Me? Whatsoever thou
givest besides thyself, I nothing care for, for I ask not thy gift, but thee.
2. As it would not be sufficient for thee
if thou hadst all things except Me, even so whatsoever thou shalt give Me, if
thou give Me not thyself, it cannot please Me. Offer thyself to Me, and give
thyself altogether for God, so shall thy offering be accepted. Behold I offered
Myself altogether to the Father for thee, I give also My whole body and blood
for food, that thou mightest remain altogether Mine and I thine. But if thou
stand in thyself, and offer not thyself freely to My will, thy offering is not
perfect, neither shall the union betwixt us be complete. Therefore ought the
freewill offering of thyself into the hands of God to go before all thy works,
if thou wilt attain liberty and grace. For
this is the cause that so few are inwardly enlightened and made free, that they
know not how to deny themselves entirely. My word standeth sure, Except a man
forsake all, he cannot be My disciple.(1) Thou therefore, if thou wilt be My
disciple, offer thyself to Me with all thy affections.
(1)
Luke xiv. 33.
29th
Day (3rd Day of the Third Week)
Theme:
Love of Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar
Two
great gifts of love Jesus Christ gave us before his death of the Cross!
-
His Body and Blood in the Most Holy
Sacrament!
-
His divine Mother Mary!
In
the Holy Communion we receive the Body and Blood which Jesus took from Mary!
Therefore there can never be a contradiction between devotion to the Blessed
Sacrament and true devotion to Mary. (Removal of “Divine Praises”, afraid of
singing Our Lady’s songs before the Bl. Sacrament exposed and forbidding
recital of Rosary during Holy Hour etc.)
Consideration: (Picture
for Meditation) Angel of Fatima with the
Holy Eucharist!
Adoration and Holy Communion
were the beginning of the message of Our Lady of Fatima
The Loving Mystery of the Holy Eucharist
(Eternal
Wisdom, Nos., 70-71, True Devotion, Nos., 266-273)
(1) The Admirable Secret of dying for men!
And abiding with men forever! (70-71)
-
“The Eternal Wisdom, to be nearer to men and
to show them His love in a more touching manner, - went so far as to make
Himself Man!”
-
So far as to become a child!
-
To be poor and to die for them on the Cross!
-
How repeatedly, when on earth, He was
calling:
“Come to Me, come all ye to
Me!”
“It is I, do not fear! Why
are you afraid?”
“I am like unto you; I love
you!”
Do
you feel you are a sinner? But it is sinners I am seeking! I am the friend of
sinners!
Do
you feel that through your own fault you have strayed from the flock? But I am
the good shepherd!
Do
you feel that you are weighed down by your sins, covered with filth and
burdened with sadness?
But
that is precisely a reason for you to come to me, because I will refresh and
comfort you!
-
“He devises an admirable way of dying in our
place to save us; and of abiding with us by the loving mystery of the Holy
Eucharist!
-
That His absence from us might not be an
occasion of forgetting Him, this Most Sweet Spouse, before His departure from
this world, left, as a memorial of His love, the Most Holy Eucharist, in which
He Himself remained!
-
Hence when Our dear Saviour left this world,
He did not wish to leave us alone, and therefore He devised a means of
remaining with us in the Holy Eucharist to the end of time, that even here
below we may enjoy His Sweet Company: “Behold I am with you all days, even to
the Consummation of the world.” (Matt. 22:20)
-
Even though Jesus foresaw all the injuries,
outrages and sacrileges of the present day errors and reforms, still He
resolved to remain with us on the altar, that we might not be deprived of His
loving presence!
All
the saints have found their paradise on earth in this Sacrament!
-
“He does not simply hid Himself under a
brilliant diamond or other precious stone, because He does not wish merely to
dwell exteriorly with men; but He hides Himself under the appearances of bread
and wine, which is the staple food of man, so that being received by man He may
dwell also in his heart, and there take His delight! To effect real union with
man! – “Communion!”
-
(2) The Practice of “True Devotion” through
Holy Communion (True Devotion 266- 273)
a) Before Holy Communion (266)
i.
Place yourself humbly in the presence of God!
ii.
Renounce your corrupt nature and dispositions
no matter how good self-love makes them appear to you.
iii.
Renew your consecration saying: “I belong
entirely to Thee, dear Mother, and all that I have is Thine.”
iv.
Implore Mary to lend you Her heart so that
you may receive her Son with her dispositions. Tell her that if she will take
up her abode in you, Jesus will be received by her in a perfect manner. Say: “O
Mary, I take Thee for my all; give me Thy heart!”
b) At Holy Communion (267-269)
i)
Say to the Eternal Father, “Lord I am not
worthy”, to receive His only begotten Son, because of your evil thoughts and
ingratitude, but that the presence of Mary His handmaid will give you a special
confidence and hope in Him.
ii)
Say to God the Son, “Lord I am not worthy”,
to receive Him, because of your useless words and carelessness in His service.
Tell him that you have no faith in your own merits and worthiness, but only in
Mary, His Mother, who adorns you with her merits and virtues.
iii) Say
to God the Holy Ghost, “Lord I am not worthy”, to receive Jesus, because of
your lukewarmness, wickedness and resistance to His inspirations. Beg Him to
overshadow Mary once again that she may give birth to the Son of God in you.
c) After Holy Communion (270-273)
Close
your eyes and recollect yourself. Enthrone Jesus into the heart of Mary. Adore
Him profoundly, show Him perfect love, embrace Him intimately in spirit and in
truth.
Go
in spirit to heaven and to the whole world, and call upon the angels and
saints, and all creatures to thank, adore and love Jesus and Mary for you.
Ask
Jesus living in Mary that His Kingdom may come upon earth through His Holy
Mother. Ask for divine Wisdom, divine Love and the forgiveness of your sins.
Ask for any other grace you need, but always through Mary and in Mary.
VISITS TO THE BLESSED
SACRAMENT
1)
Enlighten your faith and adore your Lord in
the Blessed Sacrament; thank His great goodness in coming to remain on the
altar for love of you.
2)
Love Him. Consider that your Lord, shut up in
the prison of love, is burning with love for you. Repeat acts of love, offering
yourself to Him in a special manner.
3)
Ask His grace. Beg of Him, to correct the
faults into which you always relapse, to rescue you from the passion that keeps
you in chains. to give you strength to resist temptations
Entreat
him to give you aid to suffer all insults and contradictions – with peace, to
increase in your heart His Divine Love – and particularly for perfect
resignation to His Holy Will.
When
you feel disturbed on account of having committed any fault, go instantly to
the Holy Sacrament to ask pardon, and then calm your mind.
When
you meet a heavy cross, go and offer it to Jesus and ask His aid to embrace it
with patience and resignation.
“O
Mary, my Mother, pray to Jesus for me, and obtain for me a great love for the
most Holy Sacrament!”
Spiritual Communion (Communion
of desire)
My
Jesus, I believe Thou art really present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee
more than anything in the world, and I hunger to feed on Thy flesh. But since I
can not receive Holy Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually.
I unite myself to Thee now as I do when actually receive Thee. Never let me
drift away from Thee. Amen.
The Institution of the Holy
Eucharist
(Luke.
22: 15-20) 1Cor. 11 23-27)
“The
Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving
thanks, broke and said: “Take ye and eat; This is My Body, which shall be
delivered for you. This do for the commemoration of Me.”
“In
like manner also the chalice, after He had supped, saying: This chalice is the
new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the
commemoration of me.”
“Whosoever
shall eat this bread, or drink this chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be
guilty of the body and blood of the Lord!”
Prayer: (Collect: Corpus
Christi)
O
God, Who under a wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy passion;
grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate the Sacred Mysteries of Thy Body and
Blood, that we may evermore feel within us the fruit of the redemption, Who
livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
world without end. Amen.
Spiritual Reading
Imitation of Christ,
Book 4, Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII That the devout soul
ought with the whole heart to yearn after union with Christ in the Sacrament
The Voice of the Disciple
1. Who shall grant unto me, O Lord, that I
may find Thee alone, and open all my heart unto Thee, and enjoy Thee as much as
my soul desireth; and that no man may henceforth look upon me, nor any creature
move me or have respect unto me, but Thou alone speak unto me and I unto Thee,
even as beloved is wont to speak unto beloved, and friend to feast with friend?
For this do I pray, this do I long for, that I may be wholly united unto Thee,
and may withdraw my heart from all created things, and by means of Holy Communion
and frequent celebration may learn more and more to relish heavenly and eternal
things. Ah, Lord God, when shall I be entirely united and lost in Thee, and
altogether forgetful of myself? Thou in me, and I in Thee;(1) even so grant
that we may in like manner continue together in one.
2. Verily Thou art my Beloved, the choicest
among ten thousand,(2) in whom my soul delighteth to dwell all the days of her
life. Verily Thou art my Peacemaker, in Whom is perfect peace and true rest,
apart from Whom is labour and sorrow and infinite misery. Verily Thou art a God
that hidest Thyself, and Thy counsel is not with the wicked, but Thy Word is
with the humble and the simple. O how sweet, O Lord, is Thy spirit, who that
Thou mightest manifest Thy sweetness towards Thy children, dost vouchsafe to
refresh them with the bread which is full of sweetness, which cometh down from
heaven. Verily there is no other nation so great, which hath its gods drawing
nigh to them, as Thou, our God, art present unto all Thy faithful ones,(3) unto
whom for their daily solace, and for lifting up their heart unto heaven, Thou
givest Thyself for their food
and delight.
3. For what other nation is there so
renowned as the Christian people? Or what creature is so beloved under heaven
as the devout soul to which God entereth in, that he may feed it with His
glorious flesh? O unspeakable grace! O wonderful condescension! O immeasurable
love specially bestowed upon men! But what reward shall I give unto the Lord
for this grace, for charity so mighty? There is nothing which I am able say
unto me, "If thou wilt be with Me, I will be with thee." And I will
answer Him, "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to abide with me, I will gladly be with
Thee; this is my whole desire, even that my heart be united unto Thee."
(1)
John xv. 4. (2) Cant. v. 10. (3) Deuteronomy iv. 7.
30th
Day (4th Day of the Third Week)
Theme:
Our Response to the Love of Christ
In
order to return our Love to Jesus Christ, we must:
(1) Endeavor to know Him better:
This
is done by loving contemplation of the life of Christ – His words and examples
(actions). Here again Mary is Our Model, because it is said of her that she
“kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
Knowledge, Love and Union
with Jesus
(Eternal
Wisdom, Nos., 8-14; True Devotion, Nos., 61-62, 67)
1) To love and seek Jesus it is necessary
to know Him (Eternal Wisdom, 8-14)
a) The Knowledge of Jesus is the Most noble
of all sciences:
Becaus,
its object is the Uncreated Eternal Wisdom, who contains in Himself all the
plenitude of the Divinity and of humanity. “Our Lord is the summary of all the
works of God, (St. John Chrysostom) Long for Him, seek for Him, for He is the
only precious pearl for the acquisition of which you should not hesitate to
sell all that you have.”
b) The Knowledge of Jesus is the Most
consoling of all sciences.
-
Blessed are they who listen to Him!
-
Blessed still are they who seek after Him!
-
Blessed above all are they who teach His
ways!
Who
experience within their hearts the intimate sweetness of Him.
c) The Knowledge of Jesus is the Most
Useful and the Most Necessary of all sciences.
Because,
“Eternal life is to know God and His Son Jesus Christ.” (Jn. 3:18)
-
If then we really wish to obtain life
everlasting, let us acquire the Knowledge of the divine wisdom.
-
If we wish to reach perfect sanctity on
earth, let us know the Eternal Wisdom!
-
If we wish to possess the root of immortality
in our heart, let us have in our mind the knowledge of the Eternal Wisdom!
-
“To know the Eternal Wisdom is to know
enough!”
-
“To know everything and not to know Him, is
to know nothing!”
“I
judge not myself to know anything among you but Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified.” (1Cor. 2:12) Let us then, “Grow in grace and in Knowledge of Our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 3:18)
(2) How to Know Jesus Christ (Who, What and
Where is Jesus?)
a) Who is Jesus Christ? (His Name)
He is called Eternal Wisdom:
Earthly
False: Sensual
Devilish
“WISDOM”….
(Philosophy)
Natural
(Science)
True:
(Accidental [created])
Theology
Supernatural - (Substantial [uncreated])
Eternal
Incarnate
Substantial or Uncreated
Wisdom:
He
is the Son of God, the 2nd Person of the Blessed Trinity, that is to
say:
-
In eternity – the Substantial Wisdom,
-
In the course of time – Jesus Christ!
(Incarnate)
Jesus
Christ therefore is the “Eternal Wisdom”, who in Eternity, resides from His
origin in the bosom of His Father as the object of His delight.
-
In time shines brightly in the creation of
the universe!
-
In deep humiliation of His Incarnation and
Redemption appears to us and saves us!
-
In glorious triumph judges mankind and reigns
in heaven!
-
The Philosophers speak of useless wisdom!
-
The Scientists speak of worldly wisdom!
-
The perfect and predestined souls speak of
the True Wisdom, the Eternal, the Uncreated and Incarnate Wisdom! Jesus Christ!
b) What is the function of Jesus Christ?
His function is to be “God”!
(17-30)
-
The divine wisdom (Jesus Christ) is the
substantial and eternal concept of the beauty of God (Wisdom 7:25) shown to St.
John the Evangelist in the wondrous ecstasy which he had on the Isle of Patmos,
when he exclaimed: “In the beginning was the Word – the Son of God, the Eternal
Wisdom – and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!
The
Apostles saw some radiation of that bright and incomprehensible beauty in His
Transfiguration! “In the Eternal Wisdom we behold Him Who is illustrious, high,
immense, infinite and older than the universe.” (Transfiguration Hymn)
-
His
operations are explained in the 24th chapter of Ecclesiasticus.
“I
came out of the mouth of the Most High, the first born before all creatures.
And in every nation I have had the chief rule!”… and My abode is in the full
assembly of Saints!.... In Me is all grace of the way and the truth: In Me is
all hope of life and virtue.
His power in the creation of
the Word and of men (31-40)
“All
things were made by the Word! (Jn. 1:3). When God created all things, the
Eternal Wisdom dwelt in them “to contain, to sustain, and to renew, sanctify
all things.” (Wisdom 1:7, 7:27)
He
gave His original beauty and excellence to Man when he was created! Adam and
Eve were made copies and brilliant expressions of His intellect, memory and
will! Their souls were the living images of His divinity! They had His glorious
body! O the happy state of man in his innocence – the representative of the
Eternal Wisdom on earth!
But
behold man sinned! And by sinning he loses all splendor of the Eternal Wisdom -
and resembles the devil!
His Goodness and Mercy:
(41-51)
-
The Eternal Wisdom (Jesus Christ) is keenly
moved by the misfortunes of men. So He calls to Council for a second time the
Blessed Trinity for man’s restoration!
-
The Eternal Wisdom finds an admirable means
of atoning for the sin of man – of satisfying Divine Justice and appeasing the
wrath of God – Drawn by an excess of love this loveable and sovereign Prince
offers Himself in Sacrifice to His Father, in order to redeem us from the
slavery of the devil. This offer is accepted and the decision is reached that
the Eternal Wisdom, the Son of God will become Man at the appropriate time.
During
the time that elapsed before His Incarnation, the Eternal Wisdom spoke by the
mouth of the Prophets; He guided them in their ways and prepared them for His
Incarnation!
Book
of Wisdom Chapter 10: relates how the Eternal Wisdom inspired and
prepared the patriarchs (from Adam to Moses)… (Read: Love of Eternal Wisdom,
Nos., 48-50)
c) Where is Jesus (His address)
Jesus
is really present in heaven and in
the Tabernacle! Where “Peter”, is, there is the “Church”; where the church is,
there is Mary; Where Mary is, there is Jesus!
“Then
if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.”
For
there shall arise, “false Christs” and false prophets, and shall show great
signs and wonders, in so much as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.”
(Matt. 24: 23-24)
Do you want to find Jesus? –
Go to Mary! (204-205)
-
“Jesus is the fruit and product of Mary!
Wherever He is found, in heaven, on earth, in our tabernacles and in our
hearts!
-
“Mary alone is the tree of life and Jesus
alone is the fruit of that Tree! Therefore he who wishes to have in his heart
that admirable fruit, “MUST” first have the tree (or go to the tree) that
produces it. Whoever wishes to have Jesus must have Mary!
-
“The Eternal Wisdom by making Himself
perfectly subject to Mary as to His Mother, gave her a maternal and natural
power over Him.
This
power He gave her not only for the length of His life on earth, but also in
heaven, because heavenly glory always perfects nature, never destroys it!
“Hence
in heaven Jesus is as much as ever the Son of Mary, and Mary the Mother of
Jesus. (Mother of the Eternal Wisdom)”
-
“This means that Mary gives Jesus to whom she
wills, and that Mary produces Jesus everyday in the souls of those she wills!”
Therefore
True Devotion to Mary is the true and proper address where we can find
Jesus, dwell with Jesus, and be united to the true Jesus Christ, the Eternal
Wisdom!
The Choice of the True
Wisdom!
Beware of False Wisdom!
(74-89)
There
is also the “wisdom” of the corrupt world which must be condemned, and detested
as evil and pernicious!
So
far we have spoken of the wisdom of God to perfect souls (elect); but lest they
should be deceived by the false luster of worldly wisdom, let us expose its
deceit and malice.
What is worldly Wisdom?
It
consists in the exact compliance with the maxims and fashions of the world.
It
is a secret and unceasing pursuit of pleasures and personal interests.
The
“Modernist errors” are based on this wisdom of the world! The “wise of the
world” know how to manage well their affairs and to arrange things, even
spiritual things to their temporal advantage without appearing to be so
temporal!
“They
know well how to please everybody in order to reach their end – not troubling
much about the honor and interests of God!
They
make a secret but deadly fusion of truth with untruth, of the Gospel with the
world, and virtue with vice.
They
despise and condemn every religious practice which does not conform to their
own practice!
In
short the worldly – wise are those who, being guided only by their human senses
and reason, seek only the appearance of Christian and honest folk, without
troubling much to please God or to do penance or to change their sinful way of
life!
The 7 innocent incentives on
which the worldly wise rely to lead an easy life.
1.
On honour
2.
On what people say
3.
On convention
4.
On good cheer
5.
On personal interest
6.
On refined manners
7.
On witty jokes
The 7 virtues of their own
for which they are canonized by the world:
1.
Manliness
2.
Keenness
3.
Policy
4.
Dexterity
5.
Gallantry
6.
Politeness
7.
Sprightliness
They have their own 10
commandments to which they are canonized by the world:
1.
Thou shalt be well acquainted with the world.
2.
Thou shalt be a gentleman.
3.
Thou shalt be successful in business.
4.
Thou shalt keep what is thine.
5.
Thou shalt get on in the world.
6.
Thou shalt make friends (How to win
friendships and confidence – Dale Carnegie)
7.
Thou shalt be a society man.
8.
Thou shalt make merry.
9.
Thou shalt not be a killjoy.
10.
Thou shalt avoid singularity, dullness and
sanctimoniousness.
This false wisdom is of 3
kinds:
(Earthy,
Sensual and Devilish)
1) Earthly Wisdom:
Is
the love of worldly goods – allowing oneself to become attached to earthly
possessions, to become rich, to make law suits in order to acquire or keep
temporal goods; to direct their every thought, word and deed mainly towards
something temporal.
As
to the matter of working out their eternal salvation and taking the means to do
so, they devote themselves only carelessly, in a very off-hand manner, once in
a while, and for appearance’s sake.
2) Sensual Wisdom:
Ii
is the love of pleasure – seeking only the satisfaction of the senses, to love
to make good cheer, to shun whatever mortifies and inconveniences the body.
Thinking usually only of eating, drinking, dressing, playing, laughing, amusing
themselves and having a good time! Eagerly seeking after soft beds, merry
games, sumptuous feasts and fashionable society.
And
after having indulged in all those pleasures, perhaps without displeasing the
world or injuring their health, they look for the least scrupulous confessor
(those easy going confessors who shirk their duty to…) in order to receive from
him at little cost, (a few prayers to say) the peaceful sanction of their soft
and effeminate life, and a plenary indulgence for all their sins.
3) Devilish Wisdom:
It
is the love of human esteem and honors (popularity).
Aiming
at greatness, honors, dignities and high positions; to wish to be seen,
esteemed, praised and applauded by men; to seek only the good opinions and the
praises of men so that they may be looked upon as pious people, as men of
science, as great leaders, as clever lawyers, of distinguished merits or
deserving of high consideration, to be unable to bear an insult or a rebuke; to
cover up their faults and make a show of their fine qualities.
With
Our Lord Jesus Christ the Incarnate Wisdom, we must detest and condemn these 3
kinds of false wisdom, if we wish to acquire the “True Wisdom”!
Let
us therefore remain with Jesus Christ, the Eternal Wisdom. Away from Him there
is but wandering, untruth and death! “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
(Jn. 14:6)
St.
Paul on the Wisdom and Knowledge of Christ: (Col. 2:2-3)
“That
their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity and unto all riches
of fullness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the
Father and of Christ Jesus.”
“In
Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”.
Prayer: (Collect: Epiphany
of Our Lord)
O
God, Who on this day by the guidance of a star didst reveal Thine Only-Begotten
Son to the gentiles; mercifully grant that we who know Thee now by faith, may
be brought to contemplate the beauty of Thy Majesty. Through the Same Our Lord
Jesus Christ, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth with Thee in the Unity of the
Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Spiritual
Reading:
Imitation of
Christ, Book 3, Chapter 3,
CHAPTER III How all the words of
God are to be heard with humility,
and how many consider them not
1. "My Son, hear My words, for My
words are most sweet, surpassing all the knowledge of the philosophers and wise
men of this world. My words are spirit, and they are life,(1) and are not to be
weighed by man's understanding. They are not to be drawn forth for vain
approbation, but to be heard in silence, and to be received with all humility
and with deep love."
2. And I said, "Blessed is the man
whom Thou teachest, O Lord, and instructest him in Thy law, that Thou mayest
give him rest in time of adversity,(2) and that he be not desolate in the earth."
"I," saith the Lord, "taught
the prophets from the beginning, and even now cease I not to speak unto all;
but many are deaf and hardened against My voice; many love to listen to the
world rather than to God, they follow after the desires of the flesh more
readily than after the good pleasure of God. The world promiseth things that
are temporal and small, and it is served with great eagerness. I promise things
that are great and eternal, and the hearts of mortals are slow to stir.
3. Who serveth and obeyeth Me in all
things, with such carefulness as he serveth the world and its rulers? Be thou
ashamed, O Sidon, saith the sea;(3) And if thou ask the cause, here wherefore.
For a scanty sustenance, men run a great way; for eternal life, many will scarce
lift once from the ground. A petty gain is sought after; for a single coin
sometimes men shamefully quarrel; for men will brave toil day and night, yea,
for some mere trifle or a slight promise.
4. But, alas! For an unchangeable good, for
an inestimable reward, for the highest honour and a glory that fadeth not away,
it is irksome to them to toil even a little. Be thou ashamed therefore,
slothful and discontented servant, for they are found readier unto perdition
than thou unto life. They rejoice more heartily in vanity than thou in the
truth. Sometimes, indeed, they are disappointed of their hope, but my promise
faileth no man, nor sendeth away empty him who trusteth in Me. What I have
promised I will give; what I have said I will fulfil; if only a man remain
faithful in My love unto the end. Therefore am I the rewarder of all good men,
and a strong approver of all who are godly.
5. "Write My words in thy heart and
consider them diligently, for they shall be very needful to thee in time of
temptation. What thou understandest not when thou readest, thou shalt know in
the time of thy visitation. I am wont to visit Mine elect in twofold manner,
even by temptation and by comfort, and I teach them two lessons day by day, the
one in chiding their faults, the other in exhorting them to grow in grace. He
who hath My words and rejecteth them, hath one who shall judge him at the last
day."
A PRAYER FOR THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION
6. O Lord my God, Thou art all my good, and
who am I that I should dare to speak unto Thee? I am the very poorest of Thy
servants, an abject worm, much poorer and more despicable than I know or dare
to say. Nevertheless remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, I have nothing, and
can do nothing. Thou only art good, just and holy; Thou canst do all things,
art over all things, fillest all things, leaving empty only the sinner. Call to
mind Thy tender mercies, and fill my heart with Thy grace, Thou who wilt not
that Thy work should return to Thee void.
7. How can I bear this miserable life
unless Thy mercy and grace strengthen me? Turn not away Thy face from me, delay
not Thy visitation. Withdraw not Thou Thy comfort from me, lest my soul
"gasp after thee as a thirsty land." Lord, teach me to do Thy will,
teach me to walk humbly and uprightly before Thee, for Thou art my wisdom, who
knowest me in truth, and knewest me before the world was made and before I was
born into the world.
(1) John vi. 63. (2) Psalm xciv. 13. (3) Isaiah xxiii. 4.
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